Improvement in book-binding



J. S. LEVER.

Patented Feb. 5, 1,878.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEI'oE.

JAMES S. LEVER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN BOOK-BINDING.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 200,068, dated February5, 1878; application filed m December 5, 1877.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, J AMES S. LEVER, ofPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Book-Binding, of which the following is a specication:

The object of my invention is to secure the sections of a book to theback in the simple, economical, and durable manner describedhereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure l is a perspective view, and Fig. 2 a section, of part of a book,illustrating the mode of carrying my invention into effect.

The sections A of the book are secured at their folded rear edges bystaples or by stitching to a strip, B, of open fabric, which extendsthroughout, or nearly throughout, the

entire length of the sections, glue being applied to the folded edges ofthe sections, and to that portion of the fabric which is in contact withthe said sections.

While the strip may be composed of the ordinary open fabric commonlyused by book-binders, I prefer to use a fabric com- 'posed of strongsubstantial threads w, interwoven withlighter threads y, which may bemore or less fragile, providing they serve to maintain the strongerthreads in their proper position.

The strip B is so cut and applied that the strong threads extend acrossthe back, so as to form a substantial medium by which the side boardsmay be hinged to the pack of sections.

While the strong threads are comparatively thick, the other threads areso thin that proper interstices are presented for the penetration of theglue.

The projecting portions of the strip on each side of the pack ofsections may be glued directly to the side boards; but Iprefer to securethese boards in the manner which I will now proceed to explain.

After the strip B of the fabric described has been secured to the foldededges of the sections by staples or stitches and glue, I cut away theoverhanging edges, so that nothing remains but short bands or tapes m ofthe fabric, as shown on the left of Fig. 1. I then apply to the pack of`sections one of the side boards H, as shown in Fig. 2, which has beenpierced with an awl, in the ordinary manner, at points opposite thetapes m, after which I apply a little paste to each tape, twist thelatter at the ends, so as to reduce them to a point, and pass thepointed ends of the tapes through the orifices in the back, taking careto draw the tape tight, so that the side board may t snugly to itsplace, after which I secure the opposite side board in a similar manner.

As soon as the paste applied to these twisted ends of the tapes is dry,the sides will be firmly secured to the back of the book, which is nowready to be inished in any style desired.

In order to understand the advantages of this plan it will be best tobear in mind that in ordinary binding strong and comparatively thickcords are stitched to the folded edges of the sections, and that theends of these cords are passed through oriices in the side boards, asdescribed above. These thick cords, even in the best binding, formlumps, and these appear in the leather after the latter has been appliedto complete the binding, and the consequence of this is that the leatheris soon worn Where the lumps occur, and the book is more or lessdisgured.

In my improvement the projecting tapes 'm are twisted at the end forinsertion through the orifices of the side boards 5 but the portion ofthe tape near the edge of the board is so iiat as to present but a veryslight protuberance, which scarcely appears 011 the surface of theleather. At the same time these ilat portions of the tape constitutestrong hinges for the side boards, owing to the direction in which thestrong strings of the fabric are arranged.

I claim as my inventionl. The combination of the sections and sideboards of a book with a strip of fabric having strong transverse threadsinterwoven with light longitudinal threads, and secured to the foldedbacks of the said sections, all substantially as set forth.

2. The mode herein described of securing the sides of books to thesections-that is to say, securing a strip of open fabric by staples orstitches and glue or other equivalent cement to the sections, cuttingaway the strips, so as to leave tapes m, and securing the latter to thesides, all as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specication in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses. a

Witnesses: JAS. S. LEVER.

RICHARD L. GARDINER, HARRY SMITH.

